Wrap small boxes with gift wrap and ribbon and place along the tabletop for a fun touch of whimsy.

Tie curled ribbon around candle stick holders. This dresses up your regular table topper and adds a colourful touch.

Fill different glasses with water and float cranberries on top. Arrange as a centrepiece and add sparkle with floating candles.

Place Settings

If you don’t have a complete set of dishes or silverware, don’t dismay. Place mismatched dishes around the table and tie the look together with an accent colour, such as cheerful red napkins. This is a simple and inexpensive way to create a holiday table that is uniquely you.

Make a sleek silver cylinder of Nestlé After Eight mint chocolate Straws the focus of each place setting – it’s an eye-catching and thoughtful gift for your guests.

Add festive flare to everyday napkin rings by tying on jingle bells or tucking in sprigs of holly.

Place Cards

Print lines from your favourite holiday song, poem or story on each place card. It’s a nice conversation starter and will set the festive tone.

If you like to bake, why not make holiday cookies iced with each guest’s name or initial?

Anchor each place card with a minty After Eight Leaf chocolate as a sweet treat for your guests.

A few creative ideas can make a designer-style holiday table that will dazzle your guests, without taking a bite out of your wallet. Bon appétit!

www.newscanada.com

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‘Tis the season for holiday baking – it’s better with butter

(ARA) – When it comes to whipping up holiday treats, butter is definitely better. You’re gearing up for the season and will be spending lots of quality time with the herd. Spend time with your own family in the kitchen this holiday season and bake up special memories.

Found in almost every pantry, butter’s unique flavor, melting and cooking properties make it a great ingredient for cake and cookie recipes, frostings, candies and more.

Butter has been used for cooking for centuries – according to legend, it originated when a traveler somewhere transported a container of fresh milk and unwittingly churned the cream to butter with each step. As you begin to break out the baking sheets and cookie cutters for the holiday season, here are some tips to ensure your goodies look and taste fabulous straight from the oven:

Baking with butter tips from California happy cows Janice and Diane:

* Most baking recipes call for unsalted butter (also referred to as sweet butter). However, salted and unsalted butter can be substituted for each other if necessary.

* It’s best to use unsalted butter when baking – you will have more control over the flavor since the amount of salt in salted butter varies among brands.

* Many recipes call for a greased pan. Rubbing a stick of butter along the sides and bottom of your baking dish or baking sheet will ensure nothing sticks during removal.

* Read recipes carefully to know what temperature the butter should be for baking. Some recipes call for softened butter or melted butter, while recipes for dough usually call for cold or hard butter for a flakier texture.

* Use only sticks of butter when baking to ensure even measurements. Measuring is easy using the printed measurement on the wrapper:

1/4 pound = 1 stick = 1/2 cup
1 pound = 4 sticks = 2 cups

* Some butter packaging is stamped with a “best used by” date, intended to tell how long the product will be at top eating quality. It can be kept at room temperature for short periods of time, but should be refrigerated to maintain peak flavor.

Did you know that California produces more butter than any other state in the U.S. and exported 555 million pounds in 2008? Look for the Real California Milk seal on packages of butter, which certifies it’s made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.

Cupcakes are one of our favorite treats, and a popular baking trend that has inspired both pastry chefs and home bakers alike. Here is a perfect recipe featuring traditional flavors that everyone is sure to love.

Gingerbread Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For cupcakes:
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup very hot water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons unsalted California butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

For frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted California butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 small gingerbread-man cookies

Directions:
Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour insides of 12 muffin cups or insert paper liners. Mix molasses, hot water and baking soda together in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. In a large bowl, sift together salt, ginger, cinnamon, flour and baking powder. In three additions, alternately add dry ingredients and molasses mixture to butter mixture. Mix thoroughly after each addition to make sure there are no lumps.
Evenly divide batter between cupcake molds. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pans. Cool completely before frosting

Frosting:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. If cream cheese is very soft, refrigerate for 30 minutes. With a piping bag, swirl cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake. (You can also frost them with a table knife or small spatula.) Place a gingerbread-man cookie on top of frosting or wedge the cookie into each cupcake.

For more recipes, visit www.realcaliforniamilk.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The National Christmas Tree

Also, visit Christmas Town for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2006 National Tree.

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Here’s a screenshot of the Magical Christmas WordPress Theme:

Magical Christmas WordPress Theme

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A frozen, pre-stuffed, ready to cook turkey eliminates a significant amount of preparation and clean up time.

The picture-perfect turkey and all the fixings—it’s what the whole family looks forward to every year at Christmas. However, with today’s hectic schedules, there’s not enough time to fuss over the holiday feast. This leaves many cooks in search of quick and easy meal solutions, even during the tradition-steeped holidays.

Because holiday time means quality time, Butterball staffers offer the following suggestions on how you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family.

Start with the turkey. A frozen, pre-stuffed, ready to cook turkey eliminates a significant amount of preparation and clean up time. You simply remove the package and place the turkey in a roasting pan. Then brush the skin with vegetable oil and pop it in the oven. How easy is that?

Grocery stores offer several convenient ready to cook vegetables (potatoes, carrots, broccoli, squash, etc.). With the prep already done all you need to do is decide the cooking method.

A selection of pre-made salad is available in your grocer’s produce section. Just transfer the salad to a beautiful serving bowl to make it part of your festive feast.

Dessert options are endless… a triple chocolate concoction from the corner bakery, your favourite creamy cheesecake from the club store or plum pudding from your grocer.

This year don’t stress. Give yourself the gift of time with these time saver ideas from Butterball. (Turkey Talk-Line 1-800-BUTTERBALL)

www.newscanada.com

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Create a festive table-top display with fully decorated Norfolk Island Pines.

(ARA) – From harvest festivals to tailgate football parties, the colorful fall season is in full swing. Crisp air and cooler nights signal the holidays are right around the corner.

If you’re looking for ways to add a festive and unique touch to your home, think live plants. Rather than rummaging through basements and attics for holiday decorations or buying yet another centerpiece, decorating with plants adds long-lasting year-round style and cheer to any home.

“Live plants are a perfect way to add instant holiday style to any home and they’re affordable and eco-friendly,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes and Gardens online (BHG.com).

These “green heroes” also provide oxygen and clean the indoor air as they provide holiday warmth and year-round pleasure.

Make a dramatic holiday display by your fireplace with Norfolk Island Pines.

Here are some tips from the plant pros at Costa Farms to add live plants for holiday charm:

* Enhance your home’s proportions and style.
Whether you live in a traditional stately home or small apartment, live plants add dimension and texture to any space. Long-lasting indoor plants, like the affordable Norfolk Island Pine, fit any lifestyle and decor.

“ Decorating with live plants like the Norfolk Island Pine is a home trend, “says Hancock. “Miniature evergreens work in a container on the mantel, as a centerpiece in the middle of the table or decorated in the kids’ room for fun.”

Small enough for a table-top display or large enough to be a dramatic focal point of any room, they tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. From 14 to 44 inches tall, the Norfolk Island Pines come fully decorated, or ready for your creative touch with mini lights and homemade ornaments.

* Instantly change the atmosphere of any room.
Think of the impact you want to make in your living, family or dining room. The color and the shape of the plants, arranged in simple containers or elaborate planters, can grab attention as a focal point or be an understated accent for larger pieces.

Group Christmas cactus in decorative containers, add candles and ribbon for an instant ornamental display.

“Mini moth orchids are a great choice for people looking for a dramatic centerpiece for their dining room table,” says Hancock. “Their exotic shape and stunning colors enhance any size room.”

Mini orchids are readily available, require easy care, are affordable, and provide months of blooms with little to no effort.

These beauties come in a wide range of colors in both 3-inch and 6-inch pots. Use as a standalone or group them on a seasonal table runner for a striking centerpiece. Add a sprig of greens and voila – you have instant high impact with a low price tag.

* Select plant-friendly locations.
Ever pass by a display of holiday plants and linger over the Christmas cactus? This tropical plant has flattened leaf-like structures with tips of ruffled flowers that range in color from reds and fuchsia to oranges and creams.

“Christmas cactus is a houseplant that looks great during the holidays and will provide years of pleasure,” adds Hancock. “Give it attention and the right location and you can enjoy blooms several times throughout the year.”

Group them in a decorative container and add sprigs of greenery for an instant ornamental display. Place them on your kitchen countertops or windowsills for a cheery touch throughout the holidays and year-round.

* Use color for greater design impact.
Do you have a space you want to accentuate, or do you need to fill a hollow area that is bare and boring? Poinsettias can add a punch of vivid red, white and pink living color for your holidays.

They love bright locations and can liven up any room or space that needs a joyful color accent. And they make a perfect gift.

“Poinsettias, like gingerbread houses, symbolize the holiday season,” says Hancock. “Their bright colors and graceful beauty capture the essence of the holidays.”

This seasonal must-have likes humidity – but don’t over-water. Display them in mono-color groupings for a bold statement or mix them up like living art.

With these simple tips you can enjoy the fall knowing it’s easy to spruce up your home with festive live plants and share the holiday spirit with friends and family. For more information on these holiday plants or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – You know the old drill. Weeks before the holidays begin you shop for the perfect card or pose for your annual family photo to grace your season’s greetings. Then, with pen in hand, you sign, seal, address, stamp and take a trip to the post office.

Today, with no time left to spare, the lure of e-cards is beginning to change the way we reach out to one another.

If you’ve decided that this year it’s time to make the switch, Lisa DiOrio, who teaches in the Web Design & Interactive Media Department at The New England Institute of Art in Brookline, Mass., has some sound advice, along with mixed feelings about making the switch.

“There are several ways you can go about delivering your message this year,” says DiOrio. “If you are trained in the intricacies of Web design, there is no limit to what you can create. But, if you’re like most people, you probably will need a little help along the way.”

There are many Web sites available that make it very simple and they generally fall into three categories.

Free e-card sites allow you to choose your desired card, include a customized message, insert an e-mail address of the recipient and select a date for delivery. The recipient receives a message that a card is waiting and a link to access it. “It can be as fast and easy as sending an e-mail, and in some cases,” DiOrio adds, “you can include additional customization such as photos or even a spoken or video message.”

There are also “awareness and social action” sites offering free e-cards that include their social action message. So, if there is a cause you support, you can send a holiday card and feel good about helping others at the same time.

Another common offering is membership-based e-card sites. Several, says DiOrio, offer low cost memberships ranging from $10 to $20 per year and generally have higher quality illustrations and animations. “Short-term, free, trial memberships may be available for two weeks or more if you are willing to give them your credit card information.” DiOrio says, “But remember to cancel if you change your mind.”

In addition to these types of sites, there is a hybrid available that marries the best of the old and new. DiOrio prefers to use a site that allows her to select and personalize a card, including adding photos, or to submit her own design, then have it stamped and mailed through the post office for her, for as little as $1 per card. “In this way I can send a holiday card of my own creation without sacrificing the old-fashioned traditions of the holiday season.”

DiOrio asks her students to think about what may be gained – or lost – by relying only on the Internet. Whether teaching Web design and computer programming to advanced students, or a freshman-level class where she guides her students through the maze of technology available through the Internet, DiOrio says, “I caution my students that although it is imperative to understand and leverage all that the Internet has to offer, it is also important to be mindful of keeping the human connection.”

“It’s a personal choice for each of us,” says DiOrio. “I’m happy with the solution I’ve discovered. With very little effort on my part, my nearest and dearest still get an envelope from me in their mailbox and something special to place on their mantel. It’s the best of both worlds.”

To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – The holly boughs on the front porch railing and the evergreen wreath on the door may be visible signs of the holidays, but to really savor the spirit of the season, you need to engage all your senses.

Just like a romantic dinner where all your senses are involved – soft music, gentle candlelight, enticing aromas, mouth-watering flavors and the soft touch of holding your sweetheart’s hand – celebrating the holidays also can be a feast for the senses … all season long.

Each sense you engage adds a layer of appeal to your home environment, creating a complete and satisfying holiday ambiance. Follow these helpful hints to enhance the holiday season in your home in a special way this year:

Sight
You might think creating the look of the holidays is easy. After all, you probably bring out the same boxes of holiday decorations each year. While beloved ornaments, photos and decorations always will have a place in your holiday decor, spice things up every year by adding a new item or trying a new effect.

For example, if your family loves decorating outdoors with twinkling lights, this year consider upgrading to eco-friendly LED lights. These energy-efficient alternatives may cost a little more up front, but will last longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent lights. In fact, decorating a 6-foot tree with LED lights and keeping the lights on for 12 hours per day for 40 days can save 90 percent or more energy compared with traditional incandescent lights, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Sound
Definitely bring out those holiday CDs – music is an integral element of holiday ambiance. Traditional carols, Elvis and even “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” are sure cues the holidays have arrived. But don’t stop there.

Mix up your holiday audible decor with recordings of your children’s recent holiday pageant, or record the whole family singing holiday favorites and play that in the background when guests visit. Your kids don’t have to be the Jonas Brothers, just sincere, enthusiastic and relatively in tune.

Scent
What aroma evokes the holidays for you? Does vanilla bring back memories of Sunday afternoons baking with Grandma? Does mistletoe make you think of your first kiss? Or perhaps the scent of evergreen reminds you of bringing home that special Christmas tree.

“Although we tend to associate sights with the essence of the holidays, scent is actually the sense most powerfully associated with memory,” says fragrance expert Rick Ruffolo of Yankee Candle. “It may not be practical to bake a batch of holiday cookies every time you want that wonderful aroma, but you can recreate that effect with a scented candle.”

In addition to being a simple, cost-effective option, candlelight coupled with your favorite scents is a great way to create a warm, inviting and memorable atmosphere. Yankee Candle offers a range of seasonally appropriate scents, such as Balsam & Cedar, Mistletoe, Christmas Cookie and Sparkling Cinnamon. In addition to traditional scents, try innovative approaches to traditional holiday scents and flavors like Christmas at the Beach (a tropical themed scent with a bright, festive blend of pineapple, coconut and cilantro), North Pole (a blend of icy cool mint and sugary rich vanilla cream), Sparkling Snow (the crisp, naturally fresh scent of gleaming snow-covered pines), or Christmas Cupcake (an irresistible treat of rich, moist vanilla cupcake covered with sweet buttery holiday icing).

“Having great-smelling scented candles in your home will put the finishing touches on your holiday celebrations,” Ruffolo notes. “Your guests and your family members will appreciate how these scents will bring back endearing memories of your experiences together for many years to come.” Visit www.YankeeCandle.com to learn more.

Touch
Anyone who’s ever tried to keep a toddler away from the tree knows there’s a very powerful tactile element to the holiday. Instead of discouraging touching – not just by toddlers but guests as well – give visitors to your home an appropriate opportunity to touch the holiday.

Children will love being able to touch holiday-themed stuffed animals. And tinsel is wonderfully appealing to all age groups – and easy to put back on the tree if it gets pulled off. Decorate banisters with crisp garlands that encourage a brush of the fingertip as guests climb the stairs.

Finally, keep your home cozy for the holidays – for nothing is more associated with the season than warmth and happiness. If you have a fireplace, light it when guests arrive. Be sure there are no drafts and seal any doors or windows with weather stripping. And be sure to offer guests the opportunity to curl up next to the fire in a cozy holiday-themed throw.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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This red tea panna cotta is a light and creamy dessert that’s sure to delight and impress over the holidays and throughout the year.

Make your party memorable with this light, tea-infused dessert that will wow your guests.

Quick tip: Use an iced tea made from real tea leaves so you’re getting those natural tea antioxidants. Antioxidants are a factor in the maintenance of good health.

1/4 cup berry-flavoured red iced tea

(for gelatine mixture)

3 1/2 tsp gelatine powder

3 1/4 cups 18% cream

3/4 cup icing sugar

1/3 cup berry-flavoured red iced tea

(for cream mixture)

1/4 cup berry-flavoured red iced tea

1/2 pint of fresh raspberries

2 tsp sugars

1. Place 1/4 cup of red tea in a small bowl, and sprinkle with gelatin powder. Set aside for 5 minutes.

2. Heat the cream, icing sugar and remaining red tea in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until warm. Stir 1/4 cup of warm mixture into the softened gelatin, then add back into the saucepan. Gently warm the mixture for 4 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. Lightly oil eight 1/2 cup moulds. Pour mixture into moulds and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.

4. Wash and dry the raspberries and place in a small bowl.

5. Dissolve the sugar in the tea and add to raspberries.

6. Top panna cottas with raspberries when ready to serve.

Serves 8

More tea infused recipe ideas are available online at www.mynestea.ca.

www.newscanada.com

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Dried apricots, cherries and raisins simmered in wine and combined with oatmeal bread and pecans.

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 4 1/2 hours (approximately)

10 diced, oatmeal bread slices

1 cup 250 mL white wine

1 large Granny Smith apple

1/2 cup 125 mL chopped, dried apricots

1/2 cup 125 mL golden raisins

2 tbsp 30 mL butter

1 cup 250 mL chopped onion

1 cup 250 mL chopped celery

1/2 cup 125 mL chopped, toasted pecans

1/2 tsp 3 mL salt

1/4 tsp 1 mL coarse black pepper

1 1/2 cups 375 mL chicken broth

1 Butterball Turkey (15 lb/6.8 kg)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F/165°C. Spread bread on bottom of shallow baking pan. Bake until browned (20-30 min) stirring occasionally.

2. Place wine, apples, apricots, cherries and raisins in a saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 min until wine is absorbed. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

3. Melt butter in large skillet. Add onion and celery. Cook and stir for 8 min until tender. Remove from heat.

4. Add fruit mixture, pecans, salt and pepper to skillet and stir.

5. Place mixture in large bowl and add bread and broth.

6. Prepare turkey as per package directions.

7. Place turkey, breast side up, on a flat rack in a shallow baking pan.

8. Fill neck and body cavities with stuffing. Rub turkey with vegetable oil. Place a small piece of foil over skin of neck cavity and over exposed stuffing.

9. Roast for about 4 1/2 hours, or until thermometer reaches a minimum 165°F/75°C in the center of the stuffing and 180°F / 83°C deep in the thigh. Note: Cover lightly with foil after 2 1/2 hours to prevent over cooking the breast.

10. Let turkey stand for 15 minutes before removing stuffing and carving.

Recipe from the Butterball Kitchen   www.butterball.ca

- News Canada

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